Wellington and Canterbury to win I think...
I would probably go that way too. Big game for Canterbury though, as if they lose the first two games of the season they will be right on the back foot!
The sides are as follows:
Wellington: Jason Woodward, Alapati Leiua, Charlie Ngatai, Shaun Treeby, Julian Savea, Tim Bateman, Frae Wilson, Victor Vito, Scott Fuglistaller, Lua Lokotui, Ross Filipo, Jeremy Thrush (captain), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Arden David-Perrot.
Reserves: Motu Matu'u/Liu Taituave, Solomona Sakalia, Whetu Henry, Mark Reddish, Kayne Hammington, Genesis Mamea, Matt Proctor
Hawkes Bay: 1 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 3 Peter Borlase, 4 Ross Kennedy, 5 Maselino Paulino, 6 Trent Boswell-Wakefield, 7 Karl Lowe, 8 Michael Coman, 9 Chris Eaton, 10 Dan Waenga, 11 Zac Guildford, 12 Andrew Horrell, 13 Star Timu, 14 Tino Nemani, 15 Gillies Kaka
Reserves: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Kieran Coll, 19 Tivaini Fomai, 20 Isaac Paewai, 21 Tua Saseve, 22 Nick McLennan
Wellington look even more dangerous with Vito and Savea back. Can't wait to see Savea and Nemani running into each other on the wing!
Canterbury: 1.Paea Fa'anunu, 2.Ben Funnell, 3.Nepo Laulala, 4.Joel Everson, 5.Dom Bird, 6.George Whitelock ©, 7.Matt Todd, 8.Luke Whitelock, 9.Andy Ellis, 10.Tyler Bleyendaal, 11.Johnny McNicholl, 12.Ryan Crotty, 13.Robbie Fruean, 14.Adam Whitelock, 15.Tom Taylor.
Reserves: 16.Codie Taylor, 17.Joe Moody, 18.Mike Allardice, 19.Jed Brown, 20.Willi Heinz, 21.Telusa Veainu, 22.Sam Monaghan/Rhys Llewellyn.
Auckland: 1 Pauliasi Manu, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 4 Liaki Moli, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Sean Polwart, 8 Peter Saili, 9 Alby Mathewson, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 11 George Moala, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 14 Ben Lam, 15 Charles Piutau
Reserves: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Nathan Hughes, 19 Sean Brookman, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Tony Fenner, 22 Dave Thomas
